NFL Pro Bowl 2013: Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III Deserve Nods

Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III are in position to nab a Pro Bowl spot each in the AFC and NFC respectively leading up to the unveiling on Dec. 26.

You can only hope they make it to Honolulu.

According to CBS Las Vegas, Luck was third in AFC quarterback voting last week, while Griffin was second at the position in the NFC (three quarterbacks make it to the Pro Bowl in each conference).

Both make strong cases to make the Pro Bowl rosters.

Griffin, of course, has been magnificent this season, putting the Washington Redskins in position to capture the NFC East. 

The rookie's statistics back up just how dominant he's been. He's averaged 8.27 yards per pass attempt (first in the NFL among qualifying quarterbacks) while completing 66 percent of his passes, with 18 touchdowns to four interceptions.

In addition to that, the dual-threat QB is first among quarterbacks in rushing yards (748) while averaging 6.7 yards per carry and notching six rushing touchdowns.

Griffin was spectacular in Washington's four-game winning streak in Weeks 11 through 14 before going down with a knee injury. In victories against the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens, he averaged a combined 10.2 yards per pass attempt while throwing 10 touchdowns to one interception and rushing for 219 yards.

It's not only easy to make a case for Griffin, it's hard not to make a case for him.

Luck's bid is a bit more tricky.

When you look at the Colts' Qb's numbers this season, it's easy to dismiss him. He's averaged 7.05 yards per pass attempt (17th in the NFL) while completing 55 percent of his passes, with 20 touchdowns to 18 interceptions. His 18 interceptions are tied for the most in the NFL. You look at those numbers and you squirm.

But football is about more than numbers, as we all know. Luck, a rookie quarterback, has taken a team that was 2-14 last season and transformed it into a 9-5 team, currently holding the AFC's No. 5 seed.

He's done this with a running game averaging 3.9 yards per carry (22nd in the NFL) and a defense allowing 25.6 points per game (24th). In other words, he hasn't gotten much help along the way.

But what really makes Luck special? He's engineered six game-winning drives this season (tied for first in the NFL), including four fourth-quarter comebacks, via Pro Football Reference. He led game-winning drives against the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers in Weeks 2 and 4 respectively. That's unheard of for a rookie.

Luck and Griffin deserve to make the 2013 NFL Pro Bowl, each in their own right.